BANGKOK: Thailand's junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha has said he may appoint his brother as the country's next army chief, one of the most powerful jobs in the coup-prone kingdom.

Prayut, who is now prime minister, was the army chief last May when he seized power from an elected government which opponents had decried as corrupt and nepotistic.

He defended the consideration of his sibling Preecha Chan-O-Cha, currently serving as an assistant army chief, for the top job.

Thailand's defence ministry is shortly due to submit its recommended candidate for the job with Prayut's endorsement for Preecha and the other assistant army chief, Teerachai Nakvanich, the only two applicants. "Why is it a problem that he is my younger brother?" Prayut told reporters in Bangkok on Tuesday when asked about the possibility of his sibling winning the role.